Tomatoes are delicious, juicy, and healthy fruits that are rich in vitamins C, K, A, as well as several other minerals and nutrients. Tomatoes are also often chosen by gardeners for planting in the backyard, and you can grow them in gardens or pots. One way to do this is to grow tomatoes in factory-made or homemade upside-down pots. Some of the advantages of growing tomatoes upside down are that there are fewer weeds and pests that attack, it takes up little space, does not require stakes (buffers), and the plants are easy to move.
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Part 1 of 3: Sowing Tomatoes
Step 1. Place the moist potting soil in the nursery container
When the container is full, gently tap the soil with your fingers just to remove any remaining air bubbles. Sprinkle a little water on the soil to help the tomato seeds stick.
Step 2. Make 2 holes in the ground
Use the tip of a pencil or finger to make 2 shallow holes in the soil to place the tomato seeds. You can put 2 or 3 tomato seeds in each hole. Make a hole about 0.5 cm deep.
Planting these 2 seeds will increase the chances of success, because there is definitely a chance that one of the seeds will not germinate
Step 3. Cover the seeds with a little soil
Once inserted into the hole, cover the seeds with soil about 0.5 cm thick. Gently press the soil with your fingers to compact it and ensure that the seeds blend into the soil. However, don't over-compress it. Loose soil will make it easier for seeds to germinate.
- Small varieties of tomatoes, such as cherry or grape tomatoes, are best suited for the inverted method.
- Tomatoes are grouped into indeterminate (slow growth, but long-lived) and determinate (fast growth, but short-lived). The inverted pot method is more suitable for indeterminate tomatoes because it is more flexible and does not bear fruit simultaneously, which can overload the pot.
Step 4. Sprinkle some water
This aims to moisten the soil around the seeds. You can use a dropper to dispense water, or you can wet your finger and drop it onto the ground. Do not over-water as the soil is already wet before the seeds are planted.
Keep the soil moist, but not soggy, while the seeds are germinating. Add water if the topsoil looks dry
Step 5. Provide plenty of light and warmth as the seeds begin to germinate
Place the nursery media in a warm, sunny window. Seeds starting to germinate should be placed in a location with a temperature of at least 21 °C. The seeds and shoots also require exposure to direct sunlight for at least 6 hours every day.
If your home doesn't get enough sunlight, provide artificial light
Step 6. Remove smaller plant seeds
When the tomatoes sprout and release their first set of leaves, watch the 2 seedlings that have already sprouted for healthier, larger seedlings. Remove weaker seedlings by cutting them parallel to the soil surface. You can cut it with scissors or pinch it with your fingers.
The removal of weak seeds will accelerate the growth of healthy seedlings because they do not have to compete with other plants for nutrients and sunlight
Step 7. Wait until the plant reaches a height of 15 cm
Continue to water the plant, keep it warm, and provide plenty of sun while the plant is growing. Transfer the plant to an upside-down pot when it reaches a height of about 15 cm. At this size, the plant and its root system are strong enough to take root in a new place.
Don't wait for the plant to grow bigger as the roots can be damaged when transplanted
Part 2 of 3: Making the Pot Inverted
Step 1. Choose a container for growing tomatoes
Most homemade upside down pots are made from plastic buckets that have a capacity of 20 liters. You can also use a large pot, metal bucket, or other large container that can be cut or punched.
Step 2. Make a hole in the bottom
Turn the bucket over so the bottom is on top. Use a marker and a glass to make a 5cm circle in the center of the bucket. You can also create circles freely if you don't have any tools. After that, slice the circle you made using a sharp knife.
Step 3. Place the landscape material at the bottom of the bucket
Turn the bucket so that it is facing up. Cut out one sheet of landscape material (usually made of cloth) that is the same size as the bottom of the bucket. Add the ingredients to the bottom of the bucket. This is to hold the tomato plant and soil together.
In addition to landscape cloth, you can also cover the bottom of the bucket with newspaper cut lengthwise, window screen, or a disposable coffee filter
Step 4. Put the soil into the bucket
Fill three-quarters of the bucket with potting soil, and one-quarter of the way with vermiculite. Leave about 3 cm of space at the top of the bucket. Use your hands or a wooden stick to stir the soil and vermiculite until well combined.
Potting soil provides a fertile, nutrient-rich medium for tomatoes, while vermiculite will help keep the soil moist
Step 5. Make holes in the landscape material
Hang the bucket on a hook or hanger so you can access the bottom. Use scissors or a sharp knife to make an X-shaped wedge in the landscape material that covers the bucket hole. These wedges are used to put the tomato root ball in the bucket, and it can hold the soil from falling.
Step 6. Remove the tomato plant from the nursery container
Gently press the end of the seedbed container to pry up the soil and loosen the tomato plant's root ball. Place your hands over the base of the plant and turn the container upside down. When the plant falls out, grasp the stem and roots gently and firmly, then pull the tomato plant out.
Step 7. Insert the plant roots into the hole first
Press the hole in the landscape material at the bottom of the upside down pot with your fingers. Gently insert the root ball into the bucket hole so that the plant is firmly embedded in the soil. When the root ball is in place, re-cover the landscape material around the base of the plant stem.
When placing tomato plants in buckets, be careful not to damage the roots and stems
Part 3 of 3: Caring for Plants
Step 1. Hang the pot in a sunny place
Tomatoes need sunlight for at least 6-8 hours every day. Place the pot in a sunny location to get direct, full sun. You can hang pots on strong hooks tucked into beams or posts, on hooks placed on fences, or on plant hangers.
Step 2. Water the plant if the soil is dry
Tomatoes like moist, but not soggy, soil. Water the plant when the top of the soil is slightly dry. Tomatoes grown upside down require more water, and you may need to water them daily to keep the soil moist.
- Depending on the height of the place to hang the bucket, you may have to use a ladder or chair to check the planting medium and water it.
- Use a pot or basin to catch any water that drips from the bottom of the bucket. You can also place other plants under the tomato pot to collect the water.
Step 3. Add soil if necessary
Since the soil at the top of the bucket is exposed, you may need to increase the amount every now and then. When watering the plant, check to see if the soil is draining. If you need to add soil, add potting soil or cooked compost until there is about 3 cm of space between the top of the bucket and the soil surface.
Step 4. Fertilize tomato plants every 2 or 3 weeks to accelerate growth
Tomato plants may not need fertilizer, especially if you use a very fertile growing medium. However, you can increase growth by applying a light fertilizer, such as fish-based fertilizer or diluted liquid organic fertilizer. Mix liquid fertilizer with water and use it to fertilize plants by watering them.
